Nicolas Sarkozy has conceded defeat following a vote to choose the centre-right candidate for French president.

The former President was lying third in the US-style primary after nearly 80% of the votes had been counted today reports.

It leaves the men who are likely to go forward to a second round – one of whom is almost certain to be one of the two contenders for the next president.

They are Francois Fillon, who was leading the count with 43.9% of public votes, and Alain Juppe, who has so far secured 27.9% of the votes.

It is expected that the pair will now face each other again on 27 November.

Whoever wins that vote is most likely to be the main contender to far-right leader Marine Le Pen, who is predicted to be one of two who take part in the final round of the French presidential election next May.

The ruling Socialist party, under the current President Francois Hollande, is in disarray, with polls showing he is likely to be eliminated in early voting next year.

Ms Le Pen is campaigning on a pro-nationalist, anti-immigration ticket amid growing fear of Islamist terrorism.

Her rise has been attributed to the same sentiment that prompted Donald Trump’s victory in the US and Brexit in the UK.

Last week she said that Brexit and Mr Trump’s shock victory were signs of the “emergence of a new world” in which disillusionment with mainstream politics has led many in France to consider her their only hope.

Pollsters have predicted Mr Juppe would win the primaries and subsequently defeat Ms Le Pen.